Company Announcement: Coca-Cola Partners With Nampak To Develop Sustainable Can Packaging

12th February 2013

 Coca-Cola Canners has awarded Bevcan (a Division of Nampak Products Limited) a contract in excess of R5.6 billion ZAR, over a five-year period, to produce and supply a new light-weighted aluminum can for Coca-Cola’s portfolio of beverages. Coca-Cola Canners of Southern Africa is a subsidiary of Coca-Cola South Africa (CCSA), whose shareholders include local bottling partners, Amalgamated Beverage Industries (ABI), Peninsula Beverages, Coca-Cola Shanduka Beverages and Coca-Cola Fortune. Made of aluminum and fully recyclable, the new can has superior corrosion resistant properties and is lighter, so less fuel and energy is needed for transportation.

Therese Gearhart, Coca-Cola Southern Africa President said “The new aluminum can is in line with best global practice and trends in packaging and will provide us with an exciting opportunity to continue refreshing our consumers without compromising the Coca-Cola experience. It is also light and easy-to-carry and will appeal to today’s environmentally-conscious consumer.” Erik Smuts, Bevcan Managing Director said, “We are pleased to have partnered with Coca-Cola in this project. Our infrastructure investment for this project includes installation of a new high speed line at one of our Gauteng plants, which is due for commissioning in May 2013.” “The move to aluminum will support the local economy by utilising local manufacturers, thus creating  a number of much needed jobs in South Africa,” concluded Gearhart. The new Coca-Cola cans will be introduced to the Gauteng market late this year and the rest of the country in 2014.